OBESE PETS: WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
We get it; you love your kitty. We love ours too. We all want our cats to be happy, and believe it or not, that can be the problem.
What I mean to say is that wanting our beloved kitties to be happy may cause us to overindulge them with food. And this can lead to obesity.
Care2 posted a very good article on the Dangers of Pet Obesity. It’s so good we decided to reproduce part of it here. Take a look:
According to The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), an estimated 93 million US dogs and cats are overweight or obese. That means that over half the nation’s dogs and cats are now overweight. This cost pets years of their lives and owners millions of dollars. APOP reports the following as the primary risks of excess weight in pets:
According to The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), an estimated 93 million US dogs and cats are overweight or obese. That means that over half the nation’s dogs and cats are now overweight. This cost pets years of their lives and owners millions of dollars. APOP reports the following as the primary risks of excess weight in pets:
- Osteoarthritis
- Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- Heart and Respiratory Disease
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury
- Kidney Disease
- Many Forms of Cancer
- Decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years)
www.care2.com
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
The good news is that our cats are, in many ways, just like us. They put on weight for the same reasons we do, and they can shed extra pounds in the same way we can. Here’s what Care2 has to say about it:
Similar to people, the main causes are a poor diet and overeating. Unlike human adults, dogs are not responsible for their obesity, their people are. If I left out a five pound food [sic] for my dogs, I’m quite certain that they would eat all the food in front of them, even after they were full. I give them enough high quality food for them to be satisfied, feed twice a day (as free feeding is another cause of obesity), and keep their amounts consistent. We train daily, so the amount of treats they receive during training are deducted from their mealtime kibble.
www.care2.com
WHAT’S THE ANSWER THEN?
So fortunately, the long and short of it is pretty simple: feed your cats good, high quality food in measured amounts, and make sure they get some exercise every day. Playing with your kitty is a great way to accomplish that, and it has the added benefit of being a bonding experience.
If we all do this, not only will our kitties be happier, and not only will we feel closer to them, but they will also be healthier, live longer, and need less expensive treatment at the vet. We do all love our cats, so I know we can all get this done!
You can read the original article at Care2’s website by clicking here.